First they came for the communists,and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for meand there was no one left to speak out for me.

Martin Niemöller (1892-1984)

Before the uprooting of the Gush Katif communities, I never would have thought I would need to employ Niemöller's quote for Jews about Jews. But now, seeing my community on the list of those that will allegedly survive this proposed cut, I can only think that I must not be silent. Because in the end, they will come for me. And there will be no one left to speak for me.

destroyed "for peace," 2005

As far as I know, this list of potential sacrifices is still only at the level of rumor; and I sincerely hope that the events and speeches of recent days have reminded those in power that these communities must never be uprooted. Especially for hollow promises. The list is in Hebrew; so if this is not your strong language, read instead the language of numbers. Each community's name is followed by its number of citizens. "Citizens" means people like you and me, who go to work, who work the land, who send their kids to the best schools possible, who put on uniforms to defend their families from enemies, who want to live in peace and harmony with their neighbors.

Katif, destroyed "for peace," 2005

Please bear in mind that many of these communities are not "settlements" the way you and I envision settlements, because of the way the media like to portray them. They are not shabby little tent villages, or clapboard construction, thrown up to "steal" land from harmless Palestinians. They are communities that have existed in some cases for generations. They have Biblical history. Many were uninhabited when their present occupants nurtured them from barren sand. Just like Gush Katif was.

Netzer Hazani, destroyed "for peace," 2005

We cannot know what is coming, dear fellow citizens of Eretz Yisrael. But I want you to know that I will not look at you as expendable, for some illusion of safety and comfort. As our Prime Minister told the American President yesterday: “A peace based on illusions will crash eventually on the rocks of Middle Eastern reality.”

Neve Deqalim, destroyed "for peace," 2005

Communities rumored to be "on the chopping block" should Israel negotiate more "land for peace":

גוש צ. שומרון

חיננית 906

חרמש 225

מבוא דותן 356

ריחן 196

שקד 653

סה"כ 2,336

גוש שומרון

איתמר 939

אלון מורה 1,520

ברכה 1,672

יצהר 1,053

מגדלים 140

שבי שומרון 803

אבני חפץ 1,547

יקיר 1,411

כפר תפוח 1,073

מעלה שומרון 767

נופים 471

סלעית 536

עמנואל 3,464

ענב 688

צופים 1,290

קדומים 3,918

קרני שומרון 7,002

סה"כ 28,294

גוש בנימין

בית אל 5,867

בית אריה 4,105

בית חורון 1,190

גבע בנימין 4,242

גבעון החדשה 1,307

גבעת זאב 12,643

דולב 1,308

הר אדר 3,752

חלמיש 1,150

טלמון 2,994

כוכב השחר 1,880

כוכב יעקב 6,453

כפר האורנים 2,332

מבוא חורון 1,677

מעלה לבונה 595

מעלה מכמש 1,363

נחליאל 454

ניל"י 906

נעלה 930

עופרה 3,039

עטרת 510

עלמון 1,002

פסגות 1,793

רימונים 654

שילה 2,466

עלי 3,005

סה"כ 67,617

גוש בקעת הירדן

אבנת 64

אלמוג 210

ארגמן 172

בית הערבה 113

בקעות 199

גיתית 316

גלגל 160

ורד יריחו 232

חמדת 155

חמרה 150

ייט"ב 251

יפית 174

מחולה 456

מכורה 166

מעלה אפרים 1,604

מצפה שלם 205

משואה 187

משכיות 60

נירן 65

נעמ"ה 130

נתיב הגדוד 181

פצאל 272

קליה 328

רועי 159

רותם 90

שדמות מחולה 540

תומר 310

סה"כ 6,949

גוש הר חברון

אדורה 253

אשכולות 611

חברון 606

חגי 555

טנא 679

כרמל 469

מעון 424

מצדות יהודה 419

נגוהות 243

סוסיא 945

עתניאל 717

פני חבר 370

קרית ארבע 6,904

שמעה 388

תלם 221

כרמי צור 804

סה"כ 14,608

גוש מזרח עציון

מעלה עמוס 388

נוקדים 1,124

תקוע 2,074

אספר-מיצד 377

סה"כ 3,963

סה"כ 123,767יהודים

Elei Sinai, destroyed "for peace," 2005

When Niemöller was interviewed late in his life about his famous quote, he said, "We let that happen. All of that was not our affair." He clearly regretted holding that opinion.

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About Me

I am anxious for everyone to get along, starting with the Jews. Scratch that. Starting with religious Jews. Hmmmm... probably still a lot to strive for. How about religious Jews in Israel? In Gush Etzion? In my yishuv? How about let's just start with my family. Okay, guys. As Abba says, "World peace starts at this table." Let's get our act together, and bring Moshiach.

In small ways, every day, I try to to do my part to rectify the error in judgment of my zaydies, the meraglim. "See these big grapes? We can make really big wine!"